Idler roller mounting arrangement for sound motion picture film handling cassette

Abstract

A mounting arrangement is provided for supporting an idler roller which is adapted to backup a constant speed drive capstan in a multipurpose photographic film cassette having a sound capability. The roller support includes a C-shaped bracket having an intermediate leg and upper and lower legs which extend respectively above and below the roller and which are provided with openings to receive and support a mounting pin which extends through a central opening in the roller. The lower leg is attached to a sidewall of the housing and the upper leg is provided with an extension which is adapted to engage a structural portion of the cassette in a manner to resist the force imparted to the upper end of the idler roller mounting pin by the drive capstan.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-developing sound motion picture film handling cassette adapted to be mounted in a photographic apparatus and to cooperate with a constant speed drive capstan, said cassette comprising: a housing having an opening provided therethrough to permit said constant speed drive capstan to be introduced thereinto;   a strip of photographic film coiled within said housing, said film having an intermediate longitudinal inwardly facing portion adapted to be coated with a processing fluid;   a roller formed of a substantially non-deformable plastic material engageable with said film strip as it is advanced from its coiled position within said cassette, said roller having an axial opening therethrough, the peripheral surface of said roller including a recessed portion located to be aligned with said portion of said film strip adapted to be coated with processing fluid; and   means for rotatably supporting said roller adjacent said opening so that said film strip may be drivingly biased thereagainst by said drive capstan without said roller support means adversely yielding to the force imparted thereupon by the drive capstan, said supporting means comprising a metal pin extending through said axial opening in said roller and extending beyond the extremities of said roller at each axial end thereof, and structural means, including metal support members engaging said pin at each end thereof, said metal support members comprising a C-shaped member formed of sheet metal having an intermediate connecting leg extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said roller and upper and lower legs extending above and below said roller, respectively, each of said upper and lower legs having an opening therein for receiving and supporting said pin;   said housing further comprising an integrally formed structural portion, disposed inwardly of said C-shaped member; and wherein said upper leg of said C-shaped member includes an integral projection thereof extending in a direction substantially parallel to the force imparted by said drive capstan and into supporting engagement with said structural portion of said housing for partially resisting the force imparted thereupon by said drive capstan.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said integral projection of said upper leg includes a bifurcated end and said cassette further comprises a processor for developing said film strip without removal of said film from said cassette and said structural portion comprises a protuberance formed integrally with said processor at substantially the same elevation as said upper leg and adapted to supportingly receive said bifurcated end therearound. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said protuberance is fabricated from a thermoplastic material and has a portion extending above said bifurcated end so that suitable deformation of said portion of said protuberance extending above said bifurcated end results in formation of an upset portion restraining said upper leg from moving upward. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said housing is fabricated from a thermoplastic material and includes a wall for supporting said C-shaped member, said wall having at least one upstanding lug formed integrally therewith and wherein said lower leg has openings formed therein located to receive each of said at least one upstanding lugs therethrough whereby suitable deformation of the upper ends of said upstanding lugs results in formation of an upset portion fastening said C-shaped member to said wall. 
     
     
       5. A self developing sound motion picture film handling cassette adapted to be mounted in a photographic apparatus and to cooperate with a constant speed drive capstan, said cassette comprising: a housing having an opening provided therethrough to permit said constant speed drive capstan to be introduced thereinto;   a strip of photographic film coiled within said housing, said film having an intermediate longitudinal inwardly facing portion adapted to be coated with a processing fluid;   a roller engageable with said film strip as it is advanced from its coiled position within said cassette, said roller having an axial opening therethrough, the peripheral surface of said roller including a recessed portion located to be aligned with said portion of said film strip adapted to be coated with the processing fluid;   means for rotatably supporting said roller adjacent said opening so that said film strip may be drivingly biased thereagainst by said drive capstan without said roller support means adversely yielding to the force imparted thereupon by the drive capstan, said supporting means comprising a pin extending through said axial opening in said roller and a C-shaped structural member having an intermediate connecting leg extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said roller and upper and lower legs extending above and below said roller, respectively, each of said upper and lower legs having an opening therein for receiving and supporting said pin, said lower leg of said C-shaped bracket being positively attached to an inner surface of said housing; and   structural means within said housing for positively engaging said upper leg of said C-shaped member for partially resisting the force imparted thereupon by said drive capstan.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said roller is formed of a substantially nondeformable plastic material, said pin is formed from a metal material and, said structural member is made from a sheet metal material. 
     
     
       7. A self-developing sound motion picture film handling cassette adapted to be mounted in a photographic apparatus and to cooperate with a constant speed drive capstan, said cassette comprising: a housing having an opening provided therethrough to permit said constant speed drive capstan to be introduced thereinto, said housing being defined by a plurality of exterior walls formed from a thermoplastic material;   a strip of photographic film coiled within said housing, said film having an intermediate longitudinal inwardly facing portion adapted to be coated with a processing fluid;   a roller formed of a substantially non-deformable plastic material engageable with said film strip as it is advanced from its coiled position within said cassette, said roller having an axial opening therethrough, the peripheral surface of said roller including a recessed portion located to be aligned with said portion of said film strip adapted to be coated with processing fluid; and   means for rotatably supporting said roller adjacent said opening so that said film strip may be drivingly biased thereagainst by said drive capstan without said roller support means adversely yielding to the force imparted thereupon by the drive capstan, said supporting means comprising a metal pin extending through said axial opening in said roller and extending beyond the extremities of said roller at each axial end thereof and structural means, including metal support members engaging said pin at each end thereof for resisting the force imparted thereupon by said drive capstan, said metal pin extending through said metal support member further being received in a press-fit relationship with an opening provided in the adjacent interior surface of one of said housing walls; and wherein said metal support member engaging the lower end of said metal pin is structurally attached to the same interior surface of said one housing wall.